West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-05-26
STEAMERS COLLIDE,
SEVERAL PASSENGERS KILLED.
The Celtic Runs Into tho Britannia
With Terrible Forcc-A Great
Disaster Narrowly AYcrtcd.

The steamship Britannia, OF the White Star
Line, which left Now York for Liverpool on
Wednesday last, ran into tho steamship Gel
tic, of the same line, bound for New York,
on Thursday morning during dense fog, Off
Nantucket. The Celtic was struck just abaft
the mizzen rigging and badly damaged. Tho
Britannia sustained even greater injury, and
was obliged 10 turn back 10 New York.
The captains Of both vessels wcrc on tho
lookout for other vessels and icebcrgs at tho
time of the collision, the fog being unusually
heavy. Four grown persons and little girl,
all steerage passengers ON the Britannia, were
killed and seven or eight persons injured.
Two OF the latter, VIM Iawler, aged 65, and
Patrick Burke, aged 45, had their arms and
legs broken and were broght TO ST Vinccut's
Hospital, New York city, for treatment Tho
physicians refuse 20 let them talk about the
accident.
Gle mailboat which brought them also
brought n number of the Britannic's passcn-
geners, including c. p. Huntington. The two
disabled steamships arc anchored Off the San
dy Hook lightship.
The little girl referred to was the daughter
OF Mrs. Robinson of Fall River Mass. She
was knocked overheard and drowned. Her
little brother had his arm crushed Mrs
Robinson was with her children on tho Bri-
tannic.
STRUCK WITH AWFUL FORCE.
The collision occurred about 50 miles from
the main land, about Off Nantucket The
Britannia was on her course, heading about
east 10y north, while the Celtic was evidently
n.
The first accounts OF tho collision prove 90
have been incorrect in stating that the Celtic
was run into. The Celtic run into the Brit
annie on the port-side at the mzzen rigging
and only a few feet nstern OF the after end
Of the boiler room. The mizzen rigging, iron
work and all, was wrcnched from its
fastenings, the rail was torn from its founda-
tion as far aft as the iiggermnst, and the after
| turtle back was carried into the air and over
board as though il was made OF pasteboard.
! The blow was n glancing one, the prov OF
the Celtic striking at less than n right angle
| As the striking steamship glanced along the
side it reboundod twice in its course, smash
ing two small boats 90 pieces and bending the
heavy iron force pump that stood near the
butchers quarters, over against the deck like
| a piece or TIN.
As the bow struck the pump IL caught n
steerage passenger whose name is not known.
! Irresolute in his excitement, hc was unable
| 10 get away i'm time, and was crushed against
the iron and his body cut completely in two.
! A little girl Of about fl years named Robin
son, who was with her mother aud brother on
her way to England for a visit, was also
crushed by the bow, her face and breast be-
! ing split open through the middle
Eight or ten people were injured by tho
iron work as it fell or the wood work as ii
crushed inboard -Four OF these wore too
badly injured TO DO taken care of by tho
steamers surgeon and they were transferred
20 st Vincent's Hospital. They were the
) boy George Robinson, Patrick Burke, aged
! 45 Of Wilkesbarre, Pa; WIN. Lawler, aged
6, OF St Louis, and young woman named
Rose Kelly. The two men were in "A critical
: condition The steerage passengers say that
| the known dead included three men, n woman
and the girl, but think that three others who
have been missing since tho collision were
among the dead and were thrown overheard.
! All the bodies were thrown into tho sea tho
night after the collision.